Undercounter Ice Maker

These mini ice machine units include both the ice production unit and the storage bin together in a size small enough to fit underneath a countertop. Still, they offer enough capacity to serve many operations, from restaurants to office break rooms. Before you set out shopping for one, you should estimate how much ice you'll need in 24 hours and how much you'll need on hand during a rush period. This will help you determine the size and type of kitchen ice maker you need. More

Sizing is the first step in deciding which model is best for you. Some are designed to be used in small suites to provide ice for just a few drinks at a time. Others produce several hundred pounds of ice and can be used in operations as large as grocery store delis.

Ice Production

To determine how much ice your machine needs to produce, consider what you will be using your mini ice machine for and how many customers you serve in a 24 hour period. Read our ice machine buyer's guide to find out how much ice your machine needs to produce. These models can create anywhere from 44 pounds of ice per day for the smallest swing-open door model to 772 in the largest flake ice model.

Bin Capacity

You must also consider how much ice you need your bin to store, with your busiest rush periods providing a baseline. For example, if your coffee shop is located near a college campus, you may see your largest volume of business around a class change. This is when you'll need the most ice. Make sure the bin can contain all the ice you'll need during this peak period because you'll be using it faster than the kitchen ice maker can produce it.

Ice Types

Four types of ice are offered on these models: cube, nugget, flake, and gourmet.

Cube Ice

A longtime favorite with restaurants, this type is a good choice for keeping beverages cold. Models can produce half, full, or crescent-style ice cubes. The half cube makes a better choice for soft drinks and is easier on blenders, while the full cube is more popular in mixed drinks due to its sophisticated look and slow-melting properties. For truly high-end applications, like serving premium liquors, there are manufacturers that also make a large cube of 1-inch squares and larger.

Applications

Soft drinks

Mixed drinks

Liquor on the rocks

Advantages

Melts slowly

Reduces beverage costs by displacing more liquid

Nugget Ice

This style of ice has become popular with soft drink consumers and ice crunchers alike due to its chewable texture and ability to absorb a drink's flavors. While not typically seen in sit-down restaurants, many quick-service restaurants have switched to this type of ice. For many consumers it's known simply as Sonic ice, thanks to the drive-in restaurant that has sold millions of pounds of it by the cup and by the bag.

Applications

Soft drinks

Frozen, blended drinks

Bag sales

Advantages

Soft, chewable texture

Quickly cools drinks

Absorbs the flavors of the beverage

Flake Ice

This type of ice is frequently found in grocery stores and fish markets. It cools quickly and molds gently to items it is cooling, which means delicate items like seafood and produce aren't damaged by it. It is also frequently used in healthcare and long-term care because of the fact it's unlikely to pose a major choking hazard. This type of ice usually isn't found in the restaurant industry except on salad bars and in frozen drinks.

Applications

Grocery stores and fish markets

Salad bars

Healthcare industry

Advantages

Cools quicker and molds easier than other types

Low production costs

Creates an attractive display

Soft, so risk of choking is low

Gourmet Ice

Gourmet ice is best suited for mixed drinks. This ice is clearer and has fewer minerals than other types. However, to get this shape and quality, it uses more water and electricity. There is a silver lining to that cloud, though. That higher water usage means a denser, more solid cube that will displace more liquid and melt more slowly, preserving the quality of your drinks.

Applications

High-end bars and banquet facilities

Suites

Advantages

Pure and clear, with a sophisticated look

Reduces beverage costs by displacing more liquids

Access Type

Designed for low-volume applications such as employee break rooms, suites, and small coffee shops, kitchen ice maker models with swing-open doors are typically the smallest of the three types with a typical width of 15 inches. Some manufacturers call them “compact” models because of their small footprint. The swing-out door design makes them look more like a mini refrigerator than an ice machine, but it also allows for easier access to the ice bin. These are best for uses where space is limited and you don't need high volumes of ice. Nevertheless, the largest models can produce up to 85 pounds of ice. This amount is certainly not enough for a small restaurant, but it may be enough for a small bar.

When most people think of an undercounter ice maker, a model with a slide-up door is what comes to mind. These units can easily fit underneath a bar or kitchen counter and provide a wide access area to the ice storage. Widths vary from 15 to 30 inches, with the smallest models producing around 60 pounds of ice per day with a storage capacity of 36 pounds. The largest models can produce up to 400 pounds of ice per day and store 110 pounds. They also offer a wide variety of different ice types.